Irish Examiner view: Brexit ratification is by no means the end of the matter

EU must continue to monitor and ensure that the British hold up their side of the bargain

Boris Johnson and his government have shown, time and again, that they cannot be trusted.

It has taken four years, two British prime ministers, two European Commission presidents and various changes of EU governments but, at last, the final ratification of the Brexit withdrawal agreement is under way. The so-called ‘consent vote’ by the European Parliament means the treaty can be formally ratified by the European Union.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed the parliament’s approval of the post-Brexit trade deal, but warned that its faithful implementation was crucial. Several MEPs expressed concerns over whether the British government would stick to the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA). Alongside the vote to approve the deal, the parliament passed a resolution condemning the UK’s “recent unilateral actions, in breach of the Withdrawal Agreement, to extend grace periods”.